Device for driving and controlling alpha fin-shaped propeller



March 25, 1930. w. MEINDERSMA DEVICE FOR DRIVING AND CONTROLLING A FIN SHAPED PROPELLER Filed June 30, 1928 Wzkyer and lefJm/d a 1 H w 2 1 I W5- 5 T 1 in fi 1 MW 5 8 d 8 m u m U 1 W a, 1 J L 3 6 I?! /0 pl a i w 4. j 1/ Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT! OFFICE WIGGER MEINDERSMA, OF WASSENAAR, NETHERLANDS, ASSIGNOR TO FINDRIVEN SYNDIGAAT, BESTAANDE UIT DE HEEREN DR. WIGGER MEINDERSMA TE WAS- SENAAR VOOR FIFTY FER GENT, DR. MEINE RUTGERS TE SGRAVENHAGE EN ANTON FERDINAND JOHANNES DIJKGBAAF TE ROTTERDAM, ELK VOOR TWENTY- FIVE PER CENT, OF THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, A SYNDICATE OF THE NETHER- LANDS I DEVICE FOR DRIVING AND CONTROLLING A FIN-SHAPED PROPELLER Application filed June 30, 1928, Serial No. 289,592, and in the Netherlands July 16, 1927.

The present invention relates to apparatus for driving and controlling a fin-shaped propeller; in which apparatus, besides the driving, such a controlling action takes place that during each revolution of 360 of the driving parts the controlling elements (which are held stationary) cause one complete oscillation of the propeller with regard to the driving parts. In consequence thereof, the propeller shaft twice describes a conical surface, and the propeller makes a half revolution around its axis during the time in which said shaft once describes a conical surface.

The invention has for its object an improved driving and controlling apparatus which is suitable'in every respect for practical use as a propeller; which can easily and efiiciently be enclosed or. encased in a watertight manner; in which further wear and tear is reduced to a minimum; and which can be constructed easily and cheaply.

According to the invention, the propeller shaft is supported in a bearingsituated between the two ends of the shaft or at the propeller blade end of said shaft. The propeller may be driven by means of a sliding part or parts arranged for movement along a guide member which is rotated by the driving shaft; one such part being controlled by a crank on the steering shaft or by an eccentric disc fixed on'that shaft.

Finally, the propeller may be driven by means of a guide member rotated by the driving shaft, along which member two sliding parts connected with the propeller shaft are designed to move, the steering of the propeller being effected by means of a snail-shaped cam along which move two rollers carried by a member mounted on the propeller.

The invention is further explained with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which-.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which the driving takes place by 7 means of a bowor yoke and guiding means on which a sliding part may be moved to and fro, the sliding part, in turn, being controlled by a steering crank connected with the steering shaft, the latter being passed through the hollow driving shaft;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a modification in which the propeller is connected to a number of sliding parts by means of rods;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a modification in which the driving shaft is inserted through a hollow steering shaft;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a further embodiment in which the propeller shaft is provided with guide rollers for coaction with a snail-shaped guide member, and in which the driving shaft is inserted through a hollow steering shaft; and

Fig. 5 is a part-sectional plan view of a detail of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment represented in Fig. 1, the propeller shaft 1 is provided with a ballshaped bearing 2 which is rotatably mounted in a suitable socket and is located at a point which constitutes the apex of the previouslymentioned cone generated by said shaft in its rotation about its axis. The socket is designated 21 in Fig. 2, but is merely indicated diagrammatically in the other figures by curved lines at opposite sides of the ball 2.

The part 3 of the propeller shaft above the ball-and-socket mounting has integrally secured to it a fork 4, the legs of which are pivotally connected to a pair of guide blocks 12 which are mounted to slide in an internal channel or bore 13 provided in a cross-piece forming a part of a slide 9. The latter is mounted to move along a guide member or bar 8 having its ends engaged in the ends of a clamp or yoke 7.

The previously-mentioned cross-piece has a guide channel 14 formed in its top to receive therein a slide block 11 which is rotatably connected to a steering crank 10 secured on the steering shaft 6. The driving shaft 5 fits rotatably around shaft 6 and has rigidly connected to it the two arms of the clamp or yoke 7 a The structure thus far described operates as follows: The steering shaft 6 is held stationary by the steersman, and the driving shaft 5 is rotated in any desired manner; the yoke 7 and, hence, the guide bar 8, being turned thereby. The slide 9 also partakes of the turning movement of the parts 5,? and 8; but during this movement, it is caused to execute a reciprocatory movement in opposite directions along bar 8, due to the engagement of the stationary steering crank 10.

with the guide block 11 which slides in the channel 14 of the cross-piece. By rotating the steering shaft 6 in the proper direction and to the desired extent, the direction of the propulsion effect executed by the propeller may, therefore, be altered throughout the full 360. 7

Referring, now, to Fig. 2, the propeller shaft 1 has a ball-and-socket mounting as before, the socket 21 being assumed to be fixed to the ships hull, an arrangement which can beapplied to all forms of the invention. In the present construction, the arms of the fork 4: attached to the propeller shaft 1 are hingedly connected to the inner ends of two pairs of coupling rods 18 and 19, the outer ends whereof are pivoted or hinged to slide blocks .16 and 17. The fork ends and-the aforesaid inner ends of the coupling rods are also coupled or loosely connected to the opposite sides of an intermediate slide 20 (corresponding to the slide 9 of Fig. 1) and said slide 20 and the outer slides 16 and 17 are mounted to move along the guide bar 8.

The coupling rods 18 and 19 are guided in their movements by the slides 16 and 17; but only the latter part 17 is positively actuated, viz by the rod or link 15 which-couples it to the crank 10 on the steering shaft 5.

This crank causes the oscillation of the propeller, and it is held stationary during the rotation of the driving shaft 5, in consequence of which a simultaneous reciprocating movement of the slide 17, the couplin g'rod 19 and the part v3 of'the propeller shaft 1 takes place. a r

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the driving shaft 5'extends through the hollow steering shaft 6, instead of the re verse,-'an eccentric23 is rotatably mounted within a skeleton guide '24. which is itself set in a groove provided internally of a slide a 25. This slide 25 is rotated by means of bar 8 which passes through an apertured head 22 on the driving shaft end, and it is provided at its bottom with two guide channels 13 to receiveguide blocks 12 wherewith the arms of fork 4 are hingedly or pivotally connected.

According to the further modification rep- I resented in Figs. 4- and 5, the driving shaft 5 again passes through the hollow steering shaft 6 androtates the arcuate guide bar 8 which is connected with the fork 26 on the propeller shaft arm 3 by means of the slide blocks 29. 27 indicates a series of rollers, best shown in Fig. 5, which engage the periphery of a snail-cam 28 (see Fig. 4) fixed to the steering shaft and which is turned only during the steering operation.

All the constructions above described may be arranged within a casing providing an oil a to shift said slide along said bar when the steering shaft is turned during steering.

2.'Apparatus according to claim 1, in

which the propeller shaft has a universal mountingintermediateiits ends to enable it to describe an imaginary conical surface, the I apex-ofwhichcoincides with the center of such bearing. r I

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the propeller shaft has a ball-andsocket mounting intermediate its ends to enable it to describe an imaginary conical surface, the apex of which coincides with the center of the ball.

4. Apparatus for'driving and steering a fin-shaped propeller, comprising drivingmeans; guide means connected to rotate therewith; a propeller shaft connected tobe rotated by said guide means; a normally-stationary steering'shaft; and a member connected with the steering shaft for efiecting a rocking movement of thepropeller shaft independent of its'rotation.

5. Apparatus for driving and steering a fin-shaped propeller, comprising driving means; guide 'meanscconnected. to rotate therewith; a propeller shaft connected to be rotated by said guide means; a normally-stationary steering shaft;,and a crank on the steering shaft'operatively relatedito the pro peller shaft for eifectinga rocking movement of the latter shaft independent of its rota tion. Y

6. Apparatus according to claim '1, in which the member carried by the steering shaft comprises a crank engaged with the slide toshift the same during the steering op.-.

eration. 1

7. Apparatus for driving and steering a fin-shaped propeller, comprising a rotating drive shaft; a normally-stationary steering F shaft; a guide bar connected to rotate with the drive shaft ;'-a slide movable along said bar; a. propeller shaft "having a hinged connection with the slide to be rotated by said bar; and a crank on the steering shaft engaged with said slide to shift the same when the steering shaft is turned.

8. Apparatus for driving and steering a fin-shaped propeller, comprising a rotating drive shaft; a normally-stationary steering shaft; guide means connected to rotate with the drive shaft; a slide movable relatively to said guide; a propeller shaft connected with the slide to be rotated by said guide means; and means connected with the steering shaft for shifting the slide when said steering shaft is turned.

9. Apparatus for driving and steering a fin-shaped propeller, comprising a rotating propeller shaft having a supporting bearing intermediate its ends to enable it to describe an imaginary conical surface; driving means; normally-stationary steering means associated with the driving means; connections between the driving and the steering means and the propeller shaft for causing the propeller shaft to describe such conical surface twice during each complete revolution of the driving means, and the propeller to make a halfrevolution about its axis during the time said propeller shaft describes one such surface; and a member connected with the steering means for effecting a rocking movement of the propeller shaft, independent of its rotation.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

WIGGER MEINDERSMA. 

